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Choquequirao – Vitcos – Espiritu Pampa –
Pongo de Mainique in 18 days
Difficuld: Average High
Itinerary:
Previous day:
Meeting with the tour guide to explain the trekking.
Day 1: Cusco - Cachora - Chiquisca (L, D)
5.00 a.m. We left Cusco in a private transport that will take us until the little town of Cachora. There our carriers and mules for the load will be waiting for us. We will be walking approximately 6 hours, lowering the tube of the Apurímac until Chiquisca to 1800 meters where we will encamp. |
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Day 2: Chiquisca - Maranpata - Choquequirao (B, L, D)
After a succulent breakfast we began our long walk towards the Apurímac River. After crossing the bridge the ascent of approximately 5 hours begins, until arriving at Maranpata where we will have lunch. A couple of hours later we will arrive at Choquequirao where we will encamp. |
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Day 3: Choquequirao – Pincha Huniyoc (B, L, D)
Very early we hill go to the archaeological complex of Choquequirao. We continued ascending passing by a humid forest until the passage of Choquequirao and after we will descend for 3 hours until Pincha Huniyoc (where the water jumps). There are terraces with curious ritual fountains and Inca’s Channel working yet. |
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Day 4: Pincha Huniyoc - Maizal (B, L, D)
After the breakfast we continued descending towards Rio Blanco (1,800 meters) where we will have lunch. In afternoon we will raise towards Maizal where we will encamp. We will see the Salcantay snow mountain range and Corihuayrachina Mountain. |
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Day 5: Maizal - Yanama (B, L, D)
We will walk around the Snow-covered Corihuarachina, important because have been archaeological rest, like channels Incas. Later following a section of the Inca Trail we arrived at the passage from Minas Victoria where at time of the Colony the Spaniards extracted silver. We will continue towards the spectacular Valley of Yanama under the shade of the Snow-covered Pumasillo where we will encamp. |
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Day 6: Yanama – Choquetacarpo (B, L, D)
After a 1 hour ascense we get into a part of the Inca trail for 5 hours, where there is a canyon full of mysticism where we will rest. This place is called Colca Pampa to 4,300 meters. |
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Day 7: Choquetacarpo – Huancacalle (B, L, D)
Today is harder. After a healthy breakfast we continue our trek until Choquetacarpo pass (4,720 meters), then we get into a long beautiful part of the Inca Trail for 3 hours until Punta Carretera. After we will continued to Huancacalle for 3 hours more where we will rest in a hostel. |
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Day 8: Rosaspata – Vitcos (B, L, D)
We will visit Vitcos Palace in Rosaspata ruins, visit Manco Inca tomb and Ñusta Hispana stone. The first owner of this city was Manco Inca and after his son Tito Cusi Yupanqui. His location is strategy because it’s in the middle of Choquequirao, Machu Picchu & Espiritu Pampa.
In the afternoon, we could rest a lot because we are in the middle of the expedition. |
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Day 9: Huancacalle – Colpacasa (B, L, D)
We will continue our way into the mountains, between beautiful landscapes with small rivers and fallen until Colpacasa where we will camp. In the middle of the way we will meet some cities how Vilcabamba La Nueva and his colonial church. |
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Day 10: Colpacasa – Vista Alegre (B, L, D)
We continue descending until Vilcabamba valley, following the Pampaconas River. Here we could look parts of the Inca Trail in the middle of descend. Our destination is the riverside of Vista Alegre valley where we will camp. |
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Day 11: Vista Alegre – Concevidayoc (B, L, D)
Our way is between Concevidayoc valley where we could look incredible orchis (especially the Peruvian rupicola), a variety of butterfly and a perfect part of the Inca Trail. |
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Día 12: Concevidayoc – Espíritu Pampa (D, A, C)
Today we Hill walk for 3 hours until Espiritu Pampa by a part of the Inca Trail.
In the afternoon we will have time to explore the last place of the Incas. There we could look a stone bridge, squares, terraces, a stone monolith, fountains and a lot of rooms. In this city lived 40,000 habitants.
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Day 13: Espiritu Pampa (B, L, D)
We will visit the lost City of Espiritu Pampa. |
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Day 14: Espiritu Pampa – Chiwankiri – Kiteni - Ivochote (B, L, D)
After a rest day we will star to walk for 4 hours to Chiwankiri and 3 hours by car to Kiteni small city. There we will take our lunch in a restaurant. Late in the afternoon we travel by public bus to Ivochote where we will sleep in a hostel. |
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Day 15: Ivochote - Pongo of Mainique (B, L, D)
We take a motorized canoe towards the Pongo de Mainique. We will wander by the waterfalls and then we will go to bordering beaches where we will camp and enjoy the day in the jungle. In the camp we will be able to walk around and explore, swim in the river and fish in its waters. |
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Day 16: Pongo of Mainique - Quillabamba (B, L, D)
We will rest all morning and after lunch we return by canoe to Ivochote and by public bus to Quillabamba where we will spend the night in a comfortable in a hostel. |
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Day 17: Quillabamba – Santa Teresa – Aguas Calientes (B)
From early we followed the way by our private transportation to Santa Teresa, passing by plantations of bananas, granadillas, cacao and coffee. Then we descend walking by a route from flowers and orchis until the Acobamba River and crossed a metallic bridge near the hydroelectric power station. Soon we will arrive at the line of the train, where we can wait for the arrival of the train or walk to Aguas Calientes. During this ways the panoramic view is spectacular, because we will see from a different angle the back part of the Sanctuary from Machu Picchu. We will spend the night in a hostel in Aguas Calientes and we will relax in its thermal Baths (optional). In the afternoon we get in the bus to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, to have a guided visit of this wonder of the world. |
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Day 18: Machu Picchu – Cusco (B)
Early in the morning we get in the bus to the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, to have a free visit without guide. So you could climb Huayna Picchu Mountain and take panoramic photos of Machu Picchu. In the afternoon we will take the return train to Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley and by private transportation until Cusco.
Optional: Sacred Valley Tour for 1 or 2 days additional.
B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner |
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We recommended taking:
- A small backpack with a change of clothes for the whole period of the trek
- A big backpack with: Warm clothes, including jacket, fleeces. Thermal clothing is also recommended, especially for sleeping
- Rain gear (jacket and pants if available) or rain poncho (plastic ponchos can be purchased in Cusco)
- Small towel
- Swimsuit
- Strong footwear, waterproof trekking boots recommended
- Sandals for relax moments
- Flashlight, camera, binoculars, films and batteries (batteries consume more quickly under cold conditions)
- Hat or cap to protect you from the sun, rain and cold
- Gloves, scarf, handkerchiefs
- Sun block, after-sun cream or hydrating cream for face and body
- Insect repellent – minimum recommended 20% DEET
- Toilet paper
- Personal first-aid kit
- Snacks: biscuits, energy bars, chocolate, raw fruits, muesli, etc.
- Non-disposable canteen (Nalgene type) and water for the first morning. Optionally: water sterilizing tablets in case you pick up water from streams or rivers along the route. Otherwise, we provide filtered boiled water, which is safe to drink and has not reported any health problem so far.
- Cash in soles and/or US$ (no ATM machines)
- Some document and if your are student your ISIC card
- Optional: walking sticks or poles
It includes:
- Spanish/English Professional tour guide
- Second assistance guide (beginning from 6 people)
- Porters, Muleteer & Mules to take the luggage
- Mules to take the personal luggage, maximum 10 Kg.
- Cooker and assistance
- Dinning Tent, Kitchen Tents, bathroom tent, tables and camp stool
- All the feeding in the route (breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea time and snacks)
- Doubles tents, comfort and a safe keeping of backpacks. Our tents are 3-season.
- Insulate (insulating long cushions to sleep)
- Accommodation for our staff
- First-aid kit (Included: Oxygen and Snakes Antidotes)
- 5 night in a simple Hostel at Huancacalle (2 nights), Ivochote, Quillabamba and Aguas Calientes
- Entrance Ticket to Choquequirao
- 2 Entrances Tickets to Machu Picchu
- Private Transport from your hotel in Cusco to Cachora
- Public Transport Chiwankiri – Ivochote – Quillabamba
- Private boat Ivochote – Pongo de Mainique - Ivochote
- Private transport Quillabamba – Santa Teresa
- Bus up and down Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu (for 2 days)
- Train Back Packer from Aguas Calientes to Ollataytambo
- Private transport Ollantaytambo to the hotel in Cusco
Not include:
- Sleeping bags
- Tips for the tour guide and carriers
- The breakfast on the first day and the meals in Aguas Calientes
- Entrance ticket to Vilcabamba – Espiritu Pampa (aprox. $80 per client). It’s a new entrance of the INC and sometime don’t charge
Notes:
- If you want to ride a horse during the entire long walk, you can rent it by $15 per day. You couldn’t ride in descent.
- Rent of Sleeping 0ºC = $3 per day
- Rent of Sleeping -10ºC = $8 per day
- Double Tent for one person = $5 per day
- Additional insulate = $1 per day
- Mattress inflate = $5 per day inflable = $5 por día
Important: This itinerary could take some changes during the trekking.
It’s recommend to take 1 free day after this expedition because could made delay. |
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